How Can I Protect My Home While On Vacation?

• WHAT DEVICES CAN HELP SECURE MY HOME?

• Home Security and Monitoring on Vacation
• Keep Valuables Out of Sight
• Lights On with Motion Detectors & Timers

• WHAT SAFETY PRACTICES CAN I TAKE TO SECURE MY HOME?

• Turn Off Your Water
• Keeping Up with the Landscaping
• Have a Trusted Person Stop By
• Don’t Advertise Your Trip

As the holiday season is approaching, we know many of us are eager to visit their families, friends, or some far away destination for a break from reality. However, as this season of travelling approaches, it’s crucial to protect your home on vacation. While your insurance plan has you covered in case of the unexpected, there are steps you can take to prevent anything from happening and features that could help make your claims process even smoother if anything does occur.

What Devices Can Help Secure My Home?

Home Security and Monitoring on Vacation

When looking at how to secure your home while on vacation, home security and monitoring systems are a great way to keep an eye on your home even while away. Popular systems include the Ring doorbell, Nest, and SimpliSafe – ranging from $65 to $250 and allowing you to have the desired features when watching your home. All systems allow you to get notified directly to your phone, so when you get a package and need a friend to come by and hold it for you until you get back, you’ll know right away.

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

To avoid people snooping around your house, you could invest in laminated security glass, making it impossible for people to see inside. If you don’t want to invest in this, it’s important to then put away all your valuables so they’re out of direct sight while you’re gone.

Lights On with Motion Detectors & Timers

If you don’t have them installed already: looking into light timers to have your house lit at night or motion detector lights for your front door or driveway are other features that could help deter people from messing with your property.

What Safety Practices Can I Take To Secure My Home?

When traveling, it’s important to make sure your house doesn’t look vacant. Some simple tips can help keep your house in living condition and your property protected while you’re gone.  

Turn Off Your Water

Although security devices and these other tips can help ensure that no one will mess with your property or belongings, there’s still other non-man damages that can be prevented. If a pipe burst while you’re gone, your homeowner’s policy won’t be able to cover those damages, which is where flood insurance comes in. However, you can easily avoid the possibility of flooding in your home if you turn off your water before you leave. This simple step can save you stress and money used for repairs in the worst case.

Keeping Up with the Landscaping

Make sure your lawn and exterior of your house is kept in good condition while you travel. Scheduling to have someone come by and mow the lawn, rake, or water any plants will contribute to discouraging anyone from coming onto your property.

Have a Trusted Person Stop By

In addition to keeping your landscaping in order while gone, it’s also wise to consider having a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor stop by your house. They can also bring in any mail or packages you receive while gone. Keeping your front porch clear is also important to keeping your house safe while away. Even though you’ll be having someone stop by while you’re gone it’s doubly important to not keep any hide-a-keys while you’re away. While this may seem convenient, it makes it easier for those you don’t want in your house. Just give your trusted visitor a key to keep with them while you’re gone instead!

Don’t Advertise Your Trip

In the age of social media, you may not even think twice to post when you’re leaving and where you’re going. However, this directly advertises when your house will be unoccupied. Consider posting about the trip once you’re back home and reminiscing. This way you can still share all your memories, but you can rest easy and know that no one is planning to pull a Wet Bandits while they know you’re gone.

This holiday season, these measures can help take the weight off your shoulders while you’re away from home. If anything does happen to your home while away, you can rest assured that you’re protected from exterior and interior damages and theft with your homeowner’s policy.

To go over your current policy and protections with an agent at Wiglesworth-Rindom Insurance Agency; just call us at 561-637-2424 with the name and address of the policy holder and our agents will be able to review your coverage!